Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-08-19
HON. JOHN W. STEWARDS AID.
DRESS
AT THE LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE
OF THE BENNINGTON BATTLE MoNu.
MENT, AUGUST 10, 1897.

OF THE BENNINGTON BATTLE MoNu.
MENT. AUGUST 10, 1897.
One hundred and ten years ago, this
fathers, kindred and countrymen, were
very busy on yonder hillside clearing
the track for the on-coming of the great
republic. They were men of action; and
the time for action had come. Petition
for redress, remonstrance against wrong,
protest, argument, expostulation, had all
been tried and had failed, and the ques-
ton between the colonies and the mother
country had come to the dread arbitra-
ment of war; and on that fateful day
England sent her Hessian hrelings, with
their tory and savage allies, to lay waste
and pillage the peaceful homes which
patient thrift had made in this beautiful
valley. The brave pioneers met them on
the border, nor did they await attack.
Their defence was in attack. and all that
long day they confronted the disciplined
invaders and they fought as brave men
fight for home and family and country,
while in many home within ri1e-shot
of where we stand were gathered the
mothers, sisters. wives and children of
these defenders, awaiting with beating
and anxious hearts the issue of the bat
tie and news of the loved ones who were
Drawing its perils. Who can describe the
awful suspense of that day to these fami-
lies as they listen to the distant roar of
the deadly guns: But the night draws
on, and the day is won, and so becomes
one of the most memorable in American
history.
We gather on this anniversary day to
lay the cornerstone of monument
which shall fifty commemorate this great
event, known in our history as the battle
of Bennington.
Suffer me to congratulate the officers
of the monument association to whose
indefatigable efforts such success is due
that today witnesses the initial ceremony
which is the sure prelude of the final
dedication, soon to follow, of a completed
memorial which shall fully realize the
patriotic hope so long deferred.
When or by whom the project of erect
ing monument commemorative of this
battle was first definitely proposed, l do
not know. No doubt many reader of
early American history, as he has dwelt
upon this, one of its most striking and
dramatic events, has thought that it de-
served worthy memorial. 1t is enough,
however, for this occasion to say that the
project first took organized form and ac-
ton under the charter granted by our
legislature in 1876. Among the active
managers of the association since its or
ganization under the charter may be
found the names of Ex-Govs. Proctor
and Fairbanks of this State. EX.-Gov.
Prescott of New Hampshire and Ex-Govs.
Rice and Talbot of Massachusetts.
Notwithstanding the fact that ten years
have elapsed since the association was Or
ganized, | yet venture to congratulate
its officers upon the expedition made and
the early success which has crowned
their efforts. All experience in these
matters has shown that save when under
taken and carried forward by the gov
ernment, indefinite time is required. In
December, 1893, both houses of Congress
adopted resolution for the erection of
monument to commemorate the great
events of the military and political life
of Washington, and yet the cornerstone
was not laid until 1S4S and it was not
completed until 1885 and never would
have been had not Congress in the CEN
tennial year 1876 resolved I'm the
name of the people of the United States
to assume and direct the completion of
the Washington monument in the city of
Washington
Since its organization the officers of the
association and its friends have been I'M
remitting in their efforts to raise neces-
sary funds, secure proper design and
mature plans for the earliest practicable
accomplishment of the patriotic end in
view, to wit. the erection of an imposing
memorial structure at Bennington. As
it was by the united and voluntary action
of the yeomanry of the colonies of New
Hampshire and Massachusetts, and the
then Independent State of Vermont that
the eventful victory we celebrate was
won, so it seemed emnently proper that
those States should severally unite in max.
ing contribution to the erection of such
memorial. Accordingly the officers of the
association presented the subject to the
legislatures of those States respectively.
and met from each prompt and gener
Gus response. This State contributed the
larger sum, $4,000, and properly so, con.
sidering the question of the locality OF
the event and of its proposed memorial
Massachusetts contributed $500 anC
New Hampshire 5000. The aggregate o
these sums was increased by private sub
scription from all parts of the country